Anti-religioud atheist here.

You know what…years ago I would have said “no”. Imo, often fundamentalist religious people have views that actively harm society through systemic actions. So it’s not something I am able to generally sit well with.

However, years back I met someone irl (not online) with absolutely polar opposite political and religious views as me. I am an atheist who actually opposes the concept of religion in general and I am very liberal. This person I know is very Catholic and conservative. They are a hardcore Trumper and I have always seen him as a dangerous threat to the US.

Yet…

Over the years, this person has legitimately become my absolute best friend. They are the kindest, funniest, most wonderful person I know. I absolutely love spending time with them. We just don’t debate our polar opposite viewpoints. We still share and talk about deep, personal things…but we don’t instigate political debates or anything like that. I take their views as someone who has been brainwashed by society, and I’m sure they feel the same about me. But it means that I don’t see them as evil for their views and am able to easily look past that.

I don’t know what the fuck I would do in life if I ever lost them. Sometimes they are the reason why I look forward to the rest of my day.

We are not romantically involved or anything. They have a partner and a family, and I wouldn’t be interested with doing that with this person anyway.

But the point is, it taught me that I can have a very deep, personal connection with someone with polar opposite views. Ideally, I would like for a partner to share my views. But life has shown me that it is possible to be opposite like that and still really deeply care for and enjoy someone.